The residents of villages affected by the proposed Mandal-Becharaji Special Investment Region (MB-SIR),mainly in Surendranagar and Ahmedabad districts,have resolved to revive their protests against the project if Chief Minister Narendra Modi does not announce its withdrawal in his Independence Day speech.

The protests also include those against the proposed Maruti Suzuki car manufacturing plant at Hansalpur village,stated the press release of Jameen Adhikar Andolan  Gujarat (JAAG) on Tuesday. JAAG,a voluntary organisation,is spearheading the agitation in the area.

The state government has proposed the MB-SIR covering 44 villages of Ahmedabad,Surendranagar and Patan districts. Under the draft development plan of the project,nearly 50,884 hectare land of these villages is to be acquired. The region has huge chunks of land falling under the Narmada Canals command area.